Women's Section
Special Features
SECTION. FIVE
Pages 1 to 12
VOL.. XXXVI.
LETTER DESCRIBES
OF
Radio Operator Writes Thrill
ing Account of How Ship
Sank in 14 Minutes.
FRENCH HEAR S. 0. S. CALL
A. P. Gussman Picked XTp In Ex
hausted Condition Half an Hour
After He Left Vessel Crash
Comes at Hour of Midnight.
How the American steamship Kan
Ban, torpedoed without warning, sank
in -14 minutes off the French coast last
July, while carrying a crew of BO, is
told in thrilling fashion, in a letter re
ceived by Frank H. Barstow, manager
of the Federal Telegraph Company,
from A. P. Guysman, chief radio oper
ator on the vessel at the time, who nar
rowly escaped losing his life by hero
ically striving to summon assistance
while the sea was quickly rising about
him.
Gussman, who was the last man to
leave the Kansan, was receiving news
dispatches from a radio station in Ire
land when he was suddenly thrown
from his chair by the terrific explo
sion which wrecked the engine room
and plunged the ship Into total dark
ness. Quickly realizing the situation, Guss
man ordered his assistant to save him
self while he took charge of the in
struments and succeeded in notifying
the French government of the dis
aster. The Kansan sank so rapidly
Gussman soon found the water above
his knees, forcing him to swim for his
life. He was picked up 30 minutes
later in an exhausted condition by a
lifeboat.
Kantian In Many Thrillers.
The Kansan. in command of Captain
K. A. Forsythe, had figured in a num
ber of thrilling episodes since the out
break of the war. In October, 1916,
the Kansan was held up off the New
England coast by the German subma
rine U-53 when the diver made a trans
Atlantic cruise to the United States
and sank a number of allied vessels
off the Nantucket shoals. In this in
stance she was not molested when the
captain learned she was an American
vessel. In December the Kansan struck
a mine in the war zone and was re
ported sunk. Later she was salvaged
and returned to New York.
The Kansan, a vessel of 7300 tons,
was valued at $3,000,000 and on her
last voyage she carried a cargo val
ued at J2.000.000 consigned to the
French government.
. Guasman's letter, written on his re
turn to New; York, follows in part:
"S. O. S." Fint Thought.
"On July 11, at 12:14 A. M., I was
copying press from a radio station at
Poldhu. Ireland, on the Kansan, en
route from New York to a port in
France, when suddenly there was a ter
rible explosion which threw me out of
my chair and the good old ship shook
from stem to stern. . I rushed out after
the second operator, who had gone off
watch at midnight, and reported to the
captain, who gave me the following po
sition to send out with my 'S. O. S.': 'S.
S. Kansan, torpedoed off Bell Isle;
sinking fast.'
"I released the second operator, sent
out the ,S. O. S.' on the auxiliary set
(the ship's dynamo having stopped
shortly after the impact, leaving the
ship in total darkness), and was an
swered by a station in France, who
complained of weak signals and asked
me to repeat our position, which I did
na iinaiiy got his 'O. K.'
Operator Forced to Swim.
"I then went to my room after my be
longings, and threw them into No
2 lifeboat. As no one had left the ship
yet I went back to my post, called the
French station again, but got no re
sponse. Then the ship gave a sudden
lunge and I thought we were 'goners.'
I rushed out to where No. 2 life
boat was supposed to be and found it
gone. I walked aft, looking for some
thing to cling to, and finally awoke to
the fact that I was above my knees in
water, but the forward end of the ship
was dry. There didn't seem to be any
one on the ship, so I just laid down
and swam and was picked up by the
second officer's boat 30 minutes later
don't think I could have held out much
longer.
"The Kansan sank in 66 feet of
water. Had I known this -I wouldn't
have left the ship, as I could have re
mained high and dry on the forward
mast. She was on the bottom just 14
minutes after she was hit. so you can
Imagine how quickly things happened.
Ship Hit IVrar Shore.
"We were only three miles off shore,
but had to row 10 miles to the nearest
place before we could land. Two of
the lifeboats were missing, but showed
up several hours later. The one I had
put my belongings in was capsized and
all I saved outside of what I wore was
a suit of 'B. V. D.s' and a pair of sox.
"There was great excitement in the
port when we landed. The Frenchies
knew of the torpedoing all right, but
they were still in port with their sub
marine chaser. One week out, however,
soon after we arrived, which was about
4 A. M. As far I know they didn't
encounter the submarine, which, of
course, had several hours to get away.
"We returned to New York as pas
sengers on another ship and I am go
ing out again next week on the same
run on the steamship Edward Luck
enbach." GRAYS HARBOR PLANS FAIR
Nearly All Display Space Already Is
Taken at Elnia.
EIiMA, Wash., Sept. 1. (Special.)
Xearly all display space at the Gray.
Harbor County Fair, which will open
September 5, has been taken and en
tries are still coming in.
There will be an exceptionally fine
exhibit of livestock, E. L. Brewer,
Judge Brady, Frank Glenn and others
having already entered their herds.
About 75 head of hogs have also been
entered.
The racing programme will be the
best that has ever been seen in this
city. Forty-eight entries have been
made to date. There will be two har
ness races and two running races each
day, beginning the second day of the
iair-
SUNG
KAON
OUTLINE OF ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN DIVISIONS OF NEW NATIONAL
'ARMY NOW ENCAMPED AT AMERICAN LAKE, WASHINGTON, IS COMPLETED
Vast Cantonment Will Be Ready With All Army Comforts for First Increment of Nearly 50,000 Men, Who Will Arrive This Week at Camp Lewis Nine Thousand Workers Busily Engaged
m Putting Finishing Touches on More Than 1300 Buildings Vast Maneuver Field Is Available and Soldiers Will Be Familiarized With Conditions They Will Meet on Battlefield. '
1 1 ygTg
-i - i-i - - vm. - - VI 1 'HX "
BY JOHN CONDON.
Tacoaia, sept. i. (special.; vvitn
outlines of the organization jot the
Western contingent of the first
National selective Armyi Major-Gen-eral
Henry A. Greene and his staff are
awaiting the arrival of the first in
crement of the new fighting force,
which will reach Camp Lewis, Ameri
can Lake, during the coming week.
Major David L. Stone, constructing
quartermaster, and the great civilian
force of more than 9000 men employed
by the Hurley-Mason Company, Port
land and Tacoma, in building the mili
tary city, almost have completed their
work.
The vast cantonment on the prairies
lying about the seven lakes embraced
in the 76,000-acre military reservation
practically Is ready for the reception
of the 46,169 officers and men who
will go into training for overseas serv-
Mlles of buildings, 1377 in all, have
been constructed, and every man will
be comfortably housed and well fed
from the first day he detrains at the
camp.
A wonderful community has sprung
up In eight weeks. Water, sewage and
light system as extensive as those built
for cities of 200,000 Inhabitants are all
in working order. Great crews of men
are finishing up the base hospital,
which will have 6000 beds when It is
completed, and uniforms and arms are
ready for the first half hundred thou
sand called to the colors from Western
states.
Vast Supply Problem Solved.
One of the great problems when
the work was started was to get sup
plies. But the fir emergency commit
tee of the West Coast Lumbermen's
Association hurried lumber to the can
tonment without halting work for a
day. Oregon and Washington mills re
sponded to the call of George S. Long
and J. T. Gregory, the men appointed
to see that the lumber arrived on time.
In all 35,000,000 feet of lumber was
used in the work, as well as 50,000 win
dow sashes and 12,000 doors. The busi
ness was apportioned between 100
mills, and no order larger than the
capacity of a mill was sent out. It
was the same way with all other sup
plies, and the lumbermen refused be
balked in their efforts to make good.
In one Instance a- shortage of glass
for the windows was imminent- A
telegraphic order was sent to the mills
at Pittsburg, Pa., and six carloads of
small panes were on their way the
same day that the telegram was re
ceived. Every unit of the work was co
ordinated and worked without a hitch.
Soldier and civilian worked together
amiably. Major Stone and his force
and Charles B. Hurley and his staff
cleaned away a mountain of work daily.
As the work progressed it was speeded
up, and during the last two weeks the
Hurley-Mason Company and the Inde
pendent Asphalt Company, sub-contractor,
had. more than 9000 men on
the payroll. Hundreds of motor trucks
were used In placing material and train
after . train rolled into the yards
loaded with necessaries for construc
tion. " Most Building Semi-Temporary.
Most of the buildings are of a semi
temporary character. Although Camp
Lewis will be a permanent division
post for 18,000 men after the war is
over, the Government was In such
haste to have the job finished by Sep
tember 1 that It slapped many build
ings together so that they would serve
the purpose. These later will be re
placed. Oregon soldiers will be comfortably
cared for and every want will be
looked out for when they arrive. They
will start training Immediately, for the
1400 officers, the majority of them
trained at the Presidio, have been as-
J signed to their work and the men
PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY 3IOIINING,
r
sorted out into companies, -regiments
and brigades.
. t Is the . purpose of Major-General
Greene and his staff, including Brigadier-Generals
F. S. Foltz, Edward Burr,
H. T. Styer and Irons, to give the men
the most intensive training possible.
They are all old campaigners and they
know that training in the camp is su
perior to that of the battlefield, when
the morale of the Army depends in a
large measure on the discipline of the
men.
Camp Lewis pleases Major-General
Greene. "Wonderful, simply wonder
ful," was the appreciation he voiced In
speaking of the natural site for the
camp and the construction work that
has been done. He is appreciative also
of what Tacoma has done to make the
officers and men happy while here.
Citizens of the city began planning
weeks ago.
Realizing the bringing together
of such a great body of men into a
camp without home influence, residents
of the city began the work of out
lining entertainment for the thousands
who were to come.
"The hospitality which Tacoma has
extended to the boys is an inspiration
and an example to other cities at which
posts are situated," said Major-General
Greene. "As to the way in which Taco
ma is planning to receive the soldiers
stationed here. I do not think that any
thing has been forgotten. All of the
community seems to be working to
gether with a singleness of purpose
which Insures success."
Reception Planned for Staff.
Major-General Greene and his staff
will be the honor guests at. a
welcoming banquet to be given by the
Commercial Club next Thursday night.
The 1200 members of the club will have
a chance then to meet the officers and
become acquainted. As yet the enter
tainment plans are in the embryo state.
The Knights of Columbus and Y. M.
C. A., have laid out their plans. Work
has already started on the three build
ings planned by the Knights of Colum
bus as part of their war work to help
the soldiers, irrespective of religious
convictions. The first building, which
will be a combination chapel and
recreation hall, is now under construc
tion. Catholic soldiers will have an
opportunity of assisting at mass there
and the society will maintain a chap
lain, or more than one if necessary, at
the cantonment. The recreation hall
will be a clubroom and gymnasium
with an auditorium where lecturers
will speak, moving picture shows will
be given and theatrical entertainments
will be held. The society will spend
between 140,000 and $50,000 there. This
is part of the $3,000,000 raised for such
work throughout the United States.
The" Y. M. C. A. 4s proceeding along
similar lines and its temporary build
ing now In use will be supplanted by
a more permanent structure by the
time the full force arrives.
Y. W. C. A. Will Aid.
The Y. W. C. A. has established a
hostess house also with Miss Masie
MacMaster, of Portland, in charge.
Here soldiers will have an opportunity
of meeting women friends and rela
tives who visit the camp. Miss Mac
Master obtained her training at the
Plattsburg, N. Y.. camp.
Some days ago orders came from
the War Department to motorize the
cantonment as far as possible. Nothing
more definite has been received as yet.
Stables were planned for 15,000 horses
and mules, but the number may be ma
terially cut down. However, garages
and service stations will take the
place of the stables if the order is car
ried out.
The camp is regarded as a great
engineering feat. Oregon men had
their part in this. The Eighteenth
Engineers, commanded by Colonel
Cavanaugh, was the first unit on the
job. It was made up of many Orego
nlans. Then when they left for "some
where In France," Company B, Cali
fornia Engineers, recruited In Los An-
U
'
Ill1 ? r'-l
f' 'iV-t -rwr P-M ;
1 taf. -rmsrtisjs
sri Z.i'eizi ?.c7.C'fi7r'-s-7-ri an.
A. . Collier. ,
- London
geles, took up the task. Now this
group is leaving and Companies B and
C, Oregon Engineers, are running lines
and attending to the other details of
laying out the military reserve which
will be bought with the $2,000,000 in
bonds issued by the people of Pierce
County, in which Tacoma Is situated.
It has already been presented to the
Government as a gift.
No lovelier spot could be found for
a camp of this character. It includes
lakes, trees, plains, forest and salt
water. The Nisqually prairie, a terrain
LONG LIST OF OPERA STARS RECRUITED
IN NEW YORK FOR SEASON IN MEXICO
Sigaldi Obtains Services of Polacco Percy Granger, Enlisted as Private in Army, to Appear in Concerts, Entire
Proceeds to Be Turned Over to Red Cross Society.
BY EMILIE FRANCES BAUER.
N'
EW YORK. Sept. 1. (Special.)
The shadow of coming events Is
cast before in the matter of the
gathering of the clans of Sigaldi's
opera season in Mexico for which he
has secured the services of Giorgio
Polacco, which in Itself would seem to
warrant a success.
Polacco is no stranger among the
Latin countries who know and love
opera. His success in South America
was quite as great as it was in Amer
ica or in England, where at Covent
Garden he was an acknowledged fa
vorite. Around Polacco has been gathered a
SEPTEMBER 2, 1917.
r
j&ores-Aro , Former
Co. C, Jnyirze?z5; conon.
seven miles long and four and one
half miles in width, presents a perfect
terrain for large maneuvers and heavy
artillery practice. It is of a sandy
soil and may be used all year around.
The Portland ambulance company ar
rived during the week and pitched
tents on the west side of the Pacific
company of exceptional merit with
Anna Fitziu to follow the sensational
success she has had since last she was
heard at the Metropolitan, where she
created the leading role of the late
Granados' "Goyescaa," Maggie Teyte;
Tamaki Mlura, the Japanese soprano,
for "Mme. Butterfly" and "Iris." Rosa
Raisa, the eminent Chicago Opera As
sociation soprano; Edith Mason, Roslna
Zottl. Lena Ragglani. Maria Gay. Lilian
Eubank, Maria Alemanni, Elena Ave
dano and Llna Mingonl.
Zenatello alternates with Constantino,
which body will also include Zinovleff,
Taccani, Kital and It is understood that
.. ft . ... ave
JV.Z.. e?aZon,
or Co. 2T.
Highway, opposite the rising base hos
pital and the camp of Provisional Field
Hospital B, also a Portland organiza
tion. The ambulance unit, although
organized two months, has not yet re
celved an official designation and the
men are yet to receive issues of
clothing.
Sanitary troops from Fort Riley,
Kan., are on the ground also. The unit
includes four infantry regimental de
tachments, three field artillery regi
mental detachments, one ambulance
orps and one field hospital corps.
1
the Spanish tenor, Lazzaro, will also be
of the company, as will Carlos Mejia, a
Mexican tenor.
The baritones will include Vicente
Ballester. the Spanish favorite, who will
be at the Metropolitan next season;
Rimini and Stracciari. both of the Chi
cago Operatic Association; Millo Picco
and Brunettl.
Andreas d Segurola, the well-known
basso of the Metropolitan, will head the
bassos, among whom Is noted Ananian
and Lazzarl.
Assisting Polacco will be Carlo Ni
cosia and the chorus masters and re-
iConcludtd on Pas 6. Column 4.)
NO. 35.
ART
L WILL
OPEN
OCTOBER
Portland Association's Classes
Will Draw Young Students
From All Over Northwest.
FOUR INSTRUCTORS NAMED
Henry F. Wentz and Misses Helen
Putnam, Clara Stephens and Hen
rietta Failing to Guide Work
of Young Artists.
Those who are preparing to enter art
school are anticipating the opening of
the school of the Portland Art Associa
tion which will begin its regular Fall
session on October 1. The courses
cover first, second and third-year
drawing and painting, composition;
first, second and third year design and
craft work (Including weaving, pot
tery, block-printing and stenciling),
evening life classes, a class in art ap
preciation, lectures and class work in
art history and children classes. The
instructors will be Henry F. Wentz,
Miss Helen Putnam, Miss Clara J.
Stephens and Miss Henrietta H. Failing.
Constructive class problems will in
clude work for the Christmas exhibi
tion, civic posters and the final dra
matic pantomime. The work in the craft
classes will lead to a department of
practical work.
This year Mr. Wentz -will criticise
the first and second-year work In
drawing and painting, in which stu
dents receive a thorough foundation
for work in any branch of artistic
endeavor and find a means for the
expression of their individual talents.
The Wednesday morning sketch
class, under Miss Stephens, gives an
exhilarating drill In quick drawing
from life. Miss Stephens will also have
the third-year painting class, in which
Bpecial effects of composition and
lighting will be used.
The normal work for third-year stu
dents, under Miss Putnam, will fully
prepare students, to teach art. Miss
Putnam s experience in normal work
and at the Francis Parker school gives
especial value to this class and ad
vanced students will have practice
teaching.
Among the special classes. Miss
Stephens' new class in appreciation on
Monday mornings will be of particular
interest; Mr. Wentz' fortnightly com
position class is always of great value.
Wednesday afternoons will be the time
for the class conferences on the history
of art under Miss Failing. The lectures
In connection with these will be on
Thursday afternoons.
Aliss Putnam's lectures on Egyptian
and other early art, Greek and Roman
art, will be given in October and No
vember. Miss Stephens will again be in charge
of the children's classes. Mr. Wentz
will conduct the evening classes, where
some of the most serious work of the
school is done.
GOLDEN WEDDING IS KEPT
Eight of Ten Children Celebrate
With Their Father and Mother.
MONMOUTH. Or.. Sept. 1. (Special.)
Mr. and Mrs. Lycurgus M. Butler, of
this city celebrated their golden wed
ding anniversary August 25, with a
gathering attended by 30 children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Butler's maiden name was Mary
E. Witherspoon. They were married
in Carrol County, Arkansas, came west
in 1875, settling in Southern Idaho and
later moving to Oregon. Mr. Butler
was a bugler in Company K, First
Arkansas Cavalry.
Of ten children, one Is dead. The
others, with the exception of Mrs. Allen
Short, of Turner, Wash., were present
at the anniversary. Those present
were: Milton J. Butler, Scappose. Or.;
Mrs. J. W. Beals, Snohomish, Wash.;
Mrs. J. N. Armstrong, Lake Stevens.
Wash.: Mrs. G. L. Archibald. Wheeler.
Or; Monroe Butler. Scappose. Or.;
Jonathan II. Butler, Portland; Theodore
E. Butler, Spokane; William A. Butler,
Portland.
FUNERAL OF VETERAN HELD
II. S. Beers, Who Died at Soldiers'
Home, Was Aged Nearly 80.
COTTAGE GROVE. Or., Sept. 1.
(Special.) The funeral of II. S. Beers,
who died Saturday at the Soldiers'
Home at Roseburg, was held here.
Tuesday, Rev. J. F. Smith, of Rose
burg, conducting the services, which
were under the auspices of the Grand
Army of the Republic. Interment was
in the Brumbaugh Cemetery, near the
old home of the Beers family. The
cause of death was old age.
Mr. Beers was born In Yates County,
New York, and was nearly 80 years old.
He had lived here and at Roseburg for
seven years or more. He was a veteran
of the Civil War. being a corporal in
Company B, Sixth New York Cavalry.
He was twice wounded. Surviving chil
dren are: A. B. Beers, of Centralia,
Wash.; George S. Beers, of Ostrander,
Wash., and J. F. Beers, of Hornbrook,
Cal.
PETITIONS SK FREEDOM
Effoat to Be Made to Get Release of
Alleged Embezzlers.
MARSHFIELD, Or., Sept. 1. (Spe
cial.) Petitions are being circulated in
the Coquille Valley, asking for the re
lease of F. W. Raicy and A. It. Weidner.
confined in the county jail for the past
five months, awaiting trial at the Oc
tober term of court on a charge of em
bezzlement of newspaper contest funds
from Frank B. Cameron, editor of the
Agitator.
Messrs. Weidner and Raicy obtaineC
considerable notoriety and some sym
pathy through their sensational escape
from the Coos County Jail, ahd their
voluntary return in about ten days. It
la said the petitions are receiving much
support, since the argument is put forth
the men have already paid the penalty
through their Incarceration for five
months.
SCHQD